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9
by
9 Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 53 Ratings

  • Summary: The Irish singer-songwriter returns with a second album.

Top Track

9 Crimes
Leave me out with the waste This is not what I do It's the wrong kind of place To be thinking of you It's the wrong time For somebody new It's a... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. musicOMH.com
    100
    Overall, Rice has produced a release which equals and perhaps even surpasses his debut, a album that takes you through emotional highs and lows you are unlikely to hear anywhere else this winter.
  2. Mojo
    80
    Rice doesn't dismiss outright the folky troubadour charm that distinguished O, but here it's a springboard for jealousy, sex, misery. [Dec 2006, p.104]
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  3. Blender
    80
    Even when he tips the sensitivity scales too much... Rice’s innate, anti-lite-FM intensity saves him.
  4. Under The Radar
    70
    While O floated along pretty much at one consistently delicate pace, 9 finds Rice exploring a wider range of musical expression. [#16, p.97]
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  5. NOW Magazine
    60
    It's good enough to impress fans of David Gray and Coldplay.
  6. Paste Magazine
    60
    While not as panoramic or varied as its predecessor, 9 is marked by a similar mix of poised control and impulsive gestures backed by dramatically arranged, lyrical instrumentation. [Dec 2006, p.92]
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  7. Pitchfork
    19
    Whenever Rice risks truly touching us emotionally-- say, when he's asking a former lover, "Do you brush your teeth before you kiss?" on "Accidental Babies"-- he undercuts himself with go-nowhere melodies and formulaic arrangements.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. JohnR
    Dec 30, 2006
    10
    unreal!
  2. davidm
    Mar 5, 2008
    10
    A quiet distrubing and challenging record. The album is sometimes too extreme for the general listener, but it's a gold mine of emotion A quiet distrubing and challenging record. The album is sometimes too extreme for the general listener, but it's a gold mine of emotion when you're ready for it.… Expand
  4. CarlyH.
    Jan 11, 2009
    10
    Pitchfork, i read your review, it was RETARDED. You have no REAL reasons behind hating this album. I hate you, pitchfork.
  5. StephenC
    Nov 14, 2006
    9
    "Anticipation has a habit to set you up. For dissapointment..." but i wasn't dissapointed by Rice's second album. Just like his "Anticipation has a habit to set you up. For dissapointment..." but i wasn't dissapointed by Rice's second album. Just like his debut he soars with passion and integrity (unlike a lot of solos today). He hasn't surpassed songs like 'Ami' but the album is still a pleasure to the eardrum.… Expand
  6. Ricko
    Sep 2, 2014
    8
    Not as impressive as his debut but still a generally strong record. The haunting "9 Crimes" is a fantastic opener but after that theNot as impressive as his debut but still a generally strong record. The haunting "9 Crimes" is a fantastic opener but after that the highlights are sandwiched between some material that coasts along. I've always thought there was plenty of very strong Damien Rice material knocking about that should have been included on the album ahead of what ended up on 9. Lisa Hannigan, whose vocals lifted "O" to another level is absent for most of the record and this takes away from "9". Despite these flaws there are some great moments here, such is the strength of Rice's songwriting, the only pity is that we know it could have been so much more.… Expand
  7. danielles.
    Nov 14, 2006
    8
    Not as good as 'O' but there are still many great tracks in this album ....still possesses the raw and haunting aura that we love Not as good as 'O' but there are still many great tracks in this album ....still possesses the raw and haunting aura that we love ...my favorite track is 'Dogs'… Expand
  8. MattD.
    Nov 13, 2006
    3
    Will likely turn off some of his old fans, and not get him any new ones. Here, he not only has ho-hum playing, but a few songs have a bad Will likely turn off some of his old fans, and not get him any new ones. Here, he not only has ho-hum playing, but a few songs have a bad tortured man routine.… Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

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